Sometimes a mom is forced to abort her preborn baby, even when she wants to keep her child. How helpless a mom must feel in this situation.
Young and living at home, Fatima was in a terrible situation. It all started when she missed her period . . . twice. She was pretty sure she was pregnant. If so, Fatima had already decided she wanted to keep her baby, but was afraid of how her devout Muslim parents would react.
With the help of a friend, Fatima gained the courage to seek help online, where she found Human Coalition, and called immediately. She wanted to know what her options were, what it would take to keep her baby, and the consequences of having an abortion. Fatima spoke with an understanding nurse who comforted her and assured her they were there to support her.
That same day she went to a pregnancy center for a free pregnancy test and ultrasound. The test showed that Fatima was pregnant, and the ultrasound confirmed she was carrying a baby girl. Excited and terrified at the same time, the news brought her to tears. How could she have a baby if her parents were against it? Would they demand she leave the house, forcing her to live on her own? How could she afford to do that?
What she feared the most came true. Fatima’s parents found out she was pregnant and kicked her out of the house. Her friend and boyfriend took her to a safe place so she could have a room to sleep in for the night. That was the longest night of her life.
She couldn’t sleep. Instead, she was overcome with many unanswerable questions. Will I be pregnant and homeless? How would I handle not having a job, a car, and money for food or housing? How could I afford the doctor and hospital? I’m too young to be going through this. Why, why did I get myself in this situation?
Fatima’s parents finally said they would allow her to come back home as long as she underwent an abortion. Oh, how much she wanted to keep her child, but she saw no way out. The pain of her circumstances was excruciating. Overwhelmed, Fatima felt she had no other option but to allow an abortionist to kill the baby in her womb.
If she kept her baby, Fatima worried her daughter would be ostracized by her family. She would never be able to spend time with her grandparents and enjoy simple things like ice cream, swimming, and family celebrations together. Fatima’s heart was broken.
Eventually, Fatima agreed to her parents’ demands because she wanted to go back home. Soon after, her mother and father scheduled an abortion at a clinic in New Mexico. It was a painfully long drive from Texas to New Mexico.
During the trip, Fatima pleaded with her parents to not make her get an abortion, but they ignored her.
“When we pulled up to the clinic, we saw Christian protesters, and I felt bad,” Fatima admitted. Her emotions were erupting. As soon as they entered the clinic, she fell to the floor and started crying and begging to keep her baby. Although the staff and her parents tried to calm her down, Fatima was determined to fight for the life of her baby girl.
She remembered what the nurse told her about the baby. Her daughter was a human being who deserved to live — no matter what. Her child was a living, growing person inside her who had her own DNA — including eye color, fingerprints, and heartbeat — apart from Fatima! How could she allow her baby to be aborted? She begged her parents, pleading for the life of her child.
Then a miracle happened. Her parents began to understand Fatima’s love for her child and recognized the value of their granddaughter’s life. They changed their minds and agreed to let Fatima keep her baby. In fact, on the way home, they warmed up to the idea of having a grandchild. This would be their first! Their conversation even included her mom asking if it would be alright if she bought Fatima maternity clothes.
During her pregnancy and afterwards, Fatima gained the community and emotional support she needed from Human Coalition. She was also provided tangible resources and connected to medical care to sustain her and her preborn baby.
There were still challenges between Fatima and her parents throughout her pregnancy, but they endured together with the help of Human Coalition. As a result, she and her family were blessed with an adorable baby girl, “Dareen.”
Because of her experiences, Fatima has become a champion for pro-life values and wants to share her story with every woman who is considering an abortion.
Thank you for being there for Fatima when she needed you the most! You’ve been the support system she was looking for to find support when she had no one else by her side cheering for the life of her child.
Your compassion rescued a child’s life that would have been taken senselessly. Because of your generosity, continuous prayers, and advocacy, we can make abortion unthinkable and unnecessary.
God bless you!